“We stand by you and support you,” says South Africa’s Intelligence Minister Kasrils to Hamas’ Haniyeh, demands that international community lifts sanctions against the Hamas government. South Africa traditionally aligned itself with Israel. Ronnie Kasrils is a Jew, works for the black African National Congress.

Livni refuses to resign, says she wants to signal leadership, not protest. Livni has supported Olmert’s wartime decisions. Now Livni wants none of the responsibility, but to remove Olmert and lead Kadima. Olmert’s other accomplices, including Peretz, refused to quit.

With no MK’s speaking at the protest rallies in Tel Aviv, organizers settled for popular musicians as a way to attract and cheer up some crowds. Uzi Dayan, one of the organizers, supported Barak’s year 2000 withdrawal from Lebanon. The protests are expected to gather few people because Winograd report contained no shocking news, and mostly accuses Olmert of launching a very popular war instead of seeking unspecified political solutions.

conducts the largest military buildup at the Israeli border since Yom Kippur war. Syria purchased and manufactured huge numbers of SCUD missiles, kept in underground bunkers, and Russian anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles. Israeli army made no counter-move at all. Meridor, Israeli rep in the US, refreshingly reassured Syria that Israel wants peace.

Rice and the Syrian foreign minister discussed the business of evicting Israel from the Golan Heights in exchange for Syrian promise of closing its border with Iraq.
Weeks ago, Bush blasted Nancy Pelosi for meeting Assad.
Rice and Iranian FM welcomed each other during the lunch.